Baby Shower for Naomi Elizabeth

What: Baby shower for Naomi Elizabeth Sheets

When: Sunday, January 6th at 2:30

Where: The Yecke Home (e-mail me for directions)

Why: Because the Sheets are rad

RSVP to Cheri Yecke or Tiffany Brooks,

or just give a holler in the comment section here.

JR and Daisha are registered at Target.

Holiday Party - updated

Friday, December 14th starting at 7pm we will be having our Young Families Christmas party.

The food will be catered by Marie Livingston's Steak House for only $11 per plate and dress for this event is semi-formal.

Please RSVP and provide payment by Sunday, December 9th to ensure enough food is ordered. You may give payment to Latoya Washington, Sara Landes, Sarah Doddington, or Becky Davis.

Childcare will be available.

Holiday Party

Mark Your Calendars!!

Who: Young Families, Elders and their wives, and Dan and Sue Boggs
What: Semi-Formal Christmas Party
When: Friday, December 14th 7pm - until?
Where: at the Church building

More details to come soon... be on the lookout.

Also, I forgot to mention that it is for adults and we are working on getting baby sitters at the church.

Thank You!

Becky Davis

FSU Kick-off Tonight

7:30 -- the Fellowship Hall.

Be there or be...
...somewhere else.

But it will be a lot cooler if you're at the Fellowship Hall.

Mentoring

Marion and some of the other ladies organized a mentoring class this past Wednesday evening. From previous discussions, I suspect that there are more of us (in YFM) who would be interested in some form of mentoring relationship than were actually present in class. She has asked me to find out who else might be interested. Please know that this is not a weekly commitment... it could be more like a monthly phone call. If you're interested in being hooked up with someone, please let me know. You can email me, call me or just see me at church.

Thanks!

Fighting over the New Testament

A friend of mine from Harding just called my attention to this article from a blog she reads called "Real Life Preacher."

The piece is called "Fighting Over the New Testament" and it struck me as one of the best reminders of how we should be acting towards other Christians with whom we might not see eye-to-eye on theology.

Not everyone may agree with it but I, for one, think it is spot-on. It's a great reminder of our place as Christians and hits right at the core of a lot of things I've been feeling, but not quite sure how to articulate. It mades me evaluate the spirit of humilty and gentleness with which I approach my own religious interactions, and just because of that, I think it's worth a read.

Mentoring

Ladies...some of the women in the congregation have taken very seriously John's invitation for them to mentor us. They are, however, a little overwhelmed with what that means. As I discussed this with several of them, we thought that perhaps it means different things for each of us. They are actively working to facilitate getting mentors and mentees together, but would love some feedback.

What are you hoping to get out of a mentoring relationship?

• An in-town "Mom"?
• Advice?
• Companionship?
• Organized bible study?
• Guidance with raising children or loving your husband?
• Prayer time?

Please try to verbalize what you're hoping for so that they'll know better how to proceed. Right now, they're planning a possible "speed-dating" evening for mentors and mentees! Having questions ready may really help you decide whom you'd like to attempt to connect with!

Thanks!

Jenny

Tips for Flying with Preschooler??

Hi there! I've been missing home, so after getting the go-ahead from my parents, I booked round-trip, non-stop flights from Jacksonville to Chicago (where my parents will pick us up) for me and Annaliese. Here's where I need help...

... I have never flown! Can you believe it??

So what do I need to know, especially since I'll be going with a three-year-old?? Any tips?
I'm not too worried about entertaining her, we won't have a layover, and she'll be good coloring and reading books for 2 hours. The flights are in the morning, so I'll pack snacks (I assume I can??), but won't have to worry about meals on board.

I'm going to leave my car in the airport lot (cost winds up being about the same as gas money to and from the airport for Carlin to drop us off, not to mention his time!). My family has arranged for a car seat to be waiting for us there. Do I need to have a child restraint on the plane, or does she sit like a big girl?

Ok, I guess those are my major, immediate concerns.
Thanks in advance!!
~Janay~

Atlanta Exhibit

There is currently a museum show running in Atlanta entitled, “Cradle of Christianity” and it runs through the beginning of November. I am wondering if anyone else is interested in caravanning up to Atlanta to catch it some time this fall.

Here is a blurb from the website:

“Cradle of Christianity explores the concurrent histories of early Christian and Jewish life through some of the most significant biblical artifacts ever found, including a section of the Temple Scroll, a major Dead Sea Scroll. Other highlights include the burial ossuary of Caiaphas the High Priest—who, according to the New Testament, delivered Jesus to the Romans, and an inscription bearing the name of Pontius Pilate. These artifacts represent the only surviving physical testimonies of these two prominent figures. Cradle of Christianity features a full-scale reconstruction of the chancel of a Byzantine-era church and other remains of excavated synagogues, churches, and religious sites, such as capitals, mosaics, and marble furnishings, dedicatory inscriptions, and liturgical objects.”

I’ve seen both the Temple Scroll and Caiaphas’ ossuary when I was in Israel in ’98 and they really are remarkable. I am very excited to get to see them again and I’d urge anyone interested to take advantage of the opportunity.

Tickets are $15 per person, or $13.50 if we have a group of more than ten. Also, depending on the size of the group and other people’s Atlanta friends, we may be able to just stay in homes rather than at a hotel but again, that depends on how many people we have (I’m only confident of 3 spare bedrooms at this point).

There are only four weekends that work for me that are not FSU home games, but unfortunately, two of them coincide with FAMU home games so if anyone is a Rattler, I apologize if these dates don’t cut it for you:

September 15 (FSU vs. Colorado at Colorado/FAMUS vs. Howard - home)
September 22 (bye week, both schools)
October 13 (Thursday night game vs. Wake Forest on the 11th/FAMU at SC State)
November 3 (FSU vs. Boston College, at BC/FAMU Homecoming)

I am leaning towards September 15 at this point; however, any of those dates will work for me, so whatever date works best for the other folks interested is fine.

If you are interested, please leave a note with your preferred dates in the comments section so that we can try to figure out a date that works with everyone’s calendar.

(I am also sending this to the e-mail list.)

-Tiffany B.

Collecting...

If anyone else has anything they'd like to include in the package for the Belize orphanage, please drop me an e-mail or give a call, or just bring it to church on Sunday (I'm back in town now) . I'd like to get the package in the mail next week.

Thanks, y'all!

When the sole is called up yonder...

Some friends of mine work who with a orphange in Belize just sent me an e-mail letting me know that they've had an influx of kids and need many of the following items. I will be putting together a package to mail to them over the next week or so, so if you have any of these items and would like to send it along, please let me know and I can either come and pick it up or else you can give it to me at Life Group or church.

-Shoes(all sizes and welcomed if they have an intact sole)
-Socks
-underwear
-band-aids, neosporin
-tylenol, ibuprofen
-latex gloves
-lice medication
-vicks
-washable plastic cups and plastic plates
-vitamins
-lotion

Shoes are an especially big need. They can use any kind, but they really like flip-flops since they are in Belize, after all. Target has a number of teenage/adult sizes for a dollar right now, and those are great for the workers and older children, but I know that there is a need for smaller sizes, too. So if you have any outgrown shoes or sandals from any of your little ones that you'd like to donate, so long as they have an okay sole, I know that would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, y'all!

-Tiffany B.

P.S. - Be sure to check out Jenny's two entires below. I don't want you to miss those new postings.

MERIDIAN WOODS SKATE NIGHT!

MERIDIAN WOODS SKATE NIGHT
Thursday, June 28th
6:30-9:00PM

Even if you can't (or don't) skate, you are invited to our first Meridian Woods skate night at Skate World on Thursday, June 28th. Admission is free for non-skaters and children 3 and under. They do have fisher-price skates to fit over your little one's tiny shoes, and they also have tiny regular skates that fit (almost) Bryce. If you don't have your own personalized skates in storage, then skating will cost you $6...but our ministry will receive 20% of the fees paid by anyone from Meridian Woods.

Observation seating encircles the rink, so there's plenty of room for fellowship on solid ground while you laugh out loud at grown-ups on wheels and toddlers trying to speed skate.

Be sure to bring your cameras! I've heard there are a few true skaters among us...can you guess who they are?


Contact me at praycontinually@comcast.net for more info.
Jenny

Girls' Night Out (again!)

Mark your calendars for Thursday, July 19th!

We have reservations at Fusion Cafe (on Monroe Street) for dessert and coffee at 7:00PM. (I'm sure they'd gladly whip you up some dinner too if your schedule and wallet permit it!). The desserts are all $6, ranging from homemade chocolate or carrot cake to a gormet cheeseburger dessert made of doughnut bread, brownie middle with white chocolate "cheese" sauce and mango fries.

They have assured me that we will all be at one table =) so just RSVP to me at praycontinually@comcast.net to make sure that you have a seat!

This is such a special time of fellowship with our sisters (especially the ones who aren't in our particular LIFE group), without a little one pulling, crying, interrupting, or perhaps just grinning and stealing the show! I hope you can join in the fun!

Jenny

Praise God from whom all blessings flow...

As an update on Ehtan Powell (the baby with leukemia that I posted on a month or so ago), there has been an absolutely incredible breakthrough -- the doctors just checked his spinal fluid and it came back with zero cancer cells, which means that he can undergo the stem cell transplant that can save his life!

If he'd had even a 1% count, they would have "sent him home to die peacefully." The doctors had warned Ben and Becky (the parents) that the chances of Ehtan having a clean tap were slim to none, but they committed to prayer and encouraged eveyone else to do the same.

Check out the site to read more about this wonderful miracle, and please continue to remember this little guy in your prayers as he continues his fight.

Ultimate Bible Quiz

Take the Ultimate Bible Quiz challenge.

Let us know how you did.

Here's how I did...

You know the Bible 100%!

 

Wow! You are awesome! You are a true Biblical scholar, not just a hearer but a personal reader! The books, the characters, the events, the verses - you know it all! You are fantastic!

Ultimate Bible Quiz
Create MySpace Quizzes

See if you can beat me without cheating. (yes, it's a challenge... we need to get things hopping on this site) :)
-Daisha

Williams-Trammel Group

I have put your calendar in a link as well. It is on the Right Column.

Washington-Landes group... do you guys have a calendar you want me to put on-line?

My hope is that these calendars will help avoid communication mishaps AND if there are new Young Families that are moving to the area, or that we have missed meeting at church, by checking the blog, they can get connected. (or at least see what's going on)

Williams-Trammel LIFE group schedule

Hi there! I don't know how Daisha did the fancy calendar for the Mosier-Sheets group, but here's a list of our upcoming hosts for the Williams-Trammel LIFE Group:
6/15 Davis
6/22 Newcombe
6/29 Kimber
7/6 Williams

Last week we started a study loosely titled "Why we believe what we believe" or "Why we do what we do how we do it". We started with an excellent study of communion. We'll be looking at other topics like why baptism, roles for women, elder/deacon/ministry leaders and their roles compared to scripture, instrumental music in worship, membership to a congregation, etc. As of right now I don't know what we will study when, but check with Chris/Carlin/John if you'd like more details.

Thanks!
~Janay~

Who Checks this Thing?

We have yet to spark some great discussion over the comments section...

Is that even something that we want to use this blog for?

We haven't seen the pics of Forrest in a dress. (and Troy, for that matter)

How can we make this more of a tool to keep us connected?

Any ideas?

PLEASE, leave your comment in the comment section.

For the Stay-At-Home-Moms

I have not yet joined the ranks of motherhood, but I can still appreciate this article from the Washignton Post for what it says to all those who ask (somewhat snidely) "What do stay at home moms do all day?"

I'm sure many of you will appreciate it.

-Tiffany B.

Memories of Memorial Day

Here's the video that ran before service yesterday showing clips from the Memorial Day picnic. Thanks to Jenny Kimber for letting me have the photos, Forrest Doddington for letting me have the footage he shot, and Hannah Arnold for taking my camera around and shooting some footage, too.

LIFE Groups

The Sheets-Mosier LIFE Group will be meeting throughout the summer. We have our schedules all lined up from now until August.

If you are in another group that isn't meeting, or if you are not currently in a group, please check out the link on the side. I posted our calendar.

(I'm not well-versed in HTML code, so it looks kinda' weird, but it gets you where we're meeting.)

We meet at 6:30 and eat and then have Bible study.

I didn't put our addresses on the calendar, so you'll have to look us up in the church directory.

Feel free to join us anytime!

--Daisha

Gideon's Surgery

Here G is in his hospital gown.

Isn't he adorable?

The Ronald McDonald House was a great blessing. We were fed dinner, and given a place to stay.

However, Gideon being the light sleeper he is, and being in a new place... none of us slept.

And we weren't allowed to feed Gideon after 3 am. But that morning he was signing for breakfast so nicely, I felt really mean for saying 'no.'

Gideon made friends with adults and kids alike everywhere we went. He had no idea of what was coming up. At 7:30 we handed him off to a nurse and watched him go through double doors where we were not allowed to follow. (that's when I broke down)

Two hours later, his surgeon, Dr. Earhard, came and told us everything went well and that a nurse would be coming to get us soon.

A few minutes later, we were shown into the recovery room. Gideon arrived about a minute later... This was the hardest moment for JR, and I broke down again. He looked SO small and perfect. And then they showed us what they did and told us how to take care of his dressings. That was hard too.

He was a trooper all the way home. But once we got home, his bladder had a spasm and he screamed in pain until we could get him settled down. He stayed in my arms for the next 2 hrs. and then I passed him along to my mom. And while I was taking a shower, he started getting up and moving. By dinner time, he was running around like normal.

Today has been like yesterday. The only time he seems to hurt is when his bladder spasms. OH, and his catheter has a small amount of blood in it, but the nurse said that was to be expected.

Thank you for all of your prayers. (Keep 'em coming.) :)
-JR, Daisha, and Gideon

An AFV moment? You decide...

It was just a few moments before the start of the Meridian Woods Memorial Day Picnic, and the last chance for us big boys to "test the safety" of the bouncer! So, Brian, JR, and I made a mad dash to the bouncer door to start some "serious" fun.

What ensued is what Sarah had deemed "Forrest's Fall from Grace." Enjoy the video!



BTW: Sarah wants to know if you think she should submit this to America's Funniest Home Videos. You can use the comments here to place your vote? Should we keep this just between us, or share the embarrassment with the whole world?

Girls' Night Out

Hello Ladies! The Macaroni Grill is expecting us next Monday at 7:00PM. They are also expecting a phone call from me confirming a headcount. Right now I've only heard back from a few of you...please RSVP quickly to my email address or home phone.

I'm looking forward to enjoying the evening with you!
Jenny

Please Remember

Gideon goes into surgery tomorrow. We are still waiting to hear from the hospital as to exactly WHEN.

Thank you for your prayers.

Oh, and our hotmail account isn't working, so if you leave a comment on here, that will be a better way to communicate with us.

-JR, Daisha, and Gideon

Gideon's Turning ONE!

We are so blessed to have a church family that has fallen in love with Gideon almost as much as we have. :)

Please join us in celebrating his birthday (May 27) the day before. The details are in the invitation I scanned in.

We'd love to see you there.

OH, also, we currently DO NOT have access to our hotmail e-mail account. So, if you need to get a hold of us, call or e-mail me at (here I'm going to be tricky)...
my first name, dot, my last name, @gmail.com

Happy Monday!
Daisha

Memorial Day Video Annoucement #2

Help!

Please, I need your help.

Gideon just got in some top teeth. His new thing is to grind his top teeth against his bottom teeth.

Do any of you have suggestions on how to get him to stop?

You can post a comment on this blog instead of e-mailing me directly so that everyone can benefit from your wisdom.

Thanks.
Daisha

Memorial Day Video Announcement #1

Pink Email

Ladies...Chris Newcombe has set up an email list just for the pink email of YFM.

It’s yfmwomen@meridianwoods.org. To subscribe, just send an email to yfmwomen-subscribe@lists.meridianwoods.org.

This list is primarily to protect some of our more sensitive men from receiving too many emails that do not pertain to them...food issues for most events, showers, play dates, etc...and Girls’ Nights Out!

Check your email soon for more info regarding upcoming Girls' Nights Out!
Jenny

Alexa's Birthday Party

I'm sorry that I don't have pictures from Bryce's party. I wasn't able to go.

However, I did snap some shots last night at Chuck E. Cheese.

Enjoy the slide-show.
-Daisha

Family Fun Day

Hi all! Kenia gave me the information for this event and asked that I share it with the group:

The Tallahassee Museum, Whole Child Leon, the Early Learning Coalition of the Big Bend Region, and WFSU are sponsoring the Family Fun day at the Tallahassee Museum May 12, 2007 from 9am-5pm. Come join us as local personalities share stories, books, and music every 15 minutes.

Admission is free and a variety of special activities will be available.

Parents will be able to sign up for Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten at this time. For more information, contact 850-576-1636.

Congregational Potluck - Sunday, May 6th

There will be a congregational potluck on
Sunday, immediately following services.
This will be a time to meet and fellowship
with the minister candidate, Jim Holston,
and his wife, Kathy.

Please plan to stay and to bring enough
food to feed your entire family.

P.S. - Don't miss Bible Class, as Jim will
be teaching a combined adult class in
the auditorium.

Ladies' Breakfast to Meet Kathy Holston - Minister Candidate's Wife

Hey Ladies!
I hope you are all having a wonderful week in the Lord. As you know, we have minister candidate, Jim Holston and his wife, Kathy, coming to visit with us this weekend. I am hosting a breakfast for all of the ladies of the congregation to meet and fellowship with Kathy. This will be at my home (2934 Tewkesbury Trace) on Saturday morning from 9-11. Please e-mail me if you need directions; I will also have maps to hand out on Wednesday night. If you would like to volunteer to bring something, that would be great, please e-mail me your preference of items. At this point, I still need:
1 breakfast casserole & 1 fruit salad
Thanks ladies, and I hope to see all of you on Saturday morning!
Sara D. Landes

Marrow for Ethan

I sent an e-mail to the list about this, too. Ethan Powell is a six-month-old boy at St. Jude's who desperately needs a bone marrow transplant. His parents, who are Harding alumni, are trying desperately to find a match. This is proving difficult because Ethan has a very unique marrow structure (about 1 in 2,000,000).

If you would like to be tested to see if you are a match, you can call the Tallahassee clinic (Southeastern Community Blood Center) at 850-877-7181, ext. 171 to set up an appointment. The testing is very easy -- just a mouth swab to check your own structure.

Bone marrow treatment saved my dad's life during his second battle with cancer, so I feel very passionate about this because I know it is a blessing of modern medical technology.

Even if you are not able to get tested, please keep this remarkable family in your prayers. They have an amazing attitude and faith and it's inspiring just to read about the ways that God has already touched their lives through Ethan's illness.

Thanks,
Tiffany B.

How It Happened One Night

I finished the big documentary project. It's called "How It Happened One Night." This documentary goes behind the scenes of the Tallahassee Magazine cover feature in the May/June 2007 issue, "It Happened One Night." Seven photographers set out to capture what goes on in Tallahassee from sun down to sun up. And I was there with them capturing what happened with them. It's available to view online. Click the heading of this subject or the link below.

Thanks again to those who had a hand in directly helping (C-Will, Doddingtons) and to all who showed support during this busy time.

How It Happened One Night

Meridian Woods Game Show Extravaganza

When?: Sunday, May 20^th at 6:30 p.m.

You loved “King Tut.”

You went wild for “JR, The Latte Boy”.

Now, brace yourselves for a night of buzzers, puzzles and sudden deaths in Meridian Woods’ Game Show Extravaganza!

Find out how much the elders and their wives really know about each other, when they play The Newlywed Game.

Discover how well you know the other members of your Meridian Woods family in the Identity Game.

And test your Bible knowledge, Family Feud style.

Bring your favorite batch of homemade ice cream to compete for the title as Meridian Woods’ best—judged by our panel of pregnant women.

This will be a night to celebrate our family in Christ through devotional time focused on imitating the early church, enjoyment of an old-fashioned family potluck meal (bring your favorite covered dish) and game time spent getting to know our Meridian Woods family better. Let the games begin !!

Prayer Request

During highschool, I grew close to my chorus teacher, Craig Jones. During college, I grew close to his wife, Jan. She is a breast cancer survivor, but has recently been diagnosed with what they believe is pancreatic cancer. The following is from an e-mail up-date her husband, Craig, sent out. Her children are Elaine and Rees. Rees's wife's name is Shanna.

Please keep their family in your prayers.

Thanks,
Daisha Sheets

I'm posting the e-mail below, so that you can be encouraged by their faith in this time of testing.

Jan update

The outpatient procedure on Wednesday to install the stint in the bile duct went very smoothly. What may take an hour took only 20 minutes, and with no complications. All of the tests continue to indicate pancreatic cancer, although there is still hope it is breast cancer, for it will respond better to the chemo. We’re about to find out. Chemotherapy starts Friday, for four hours. Two weeks later she gets a one hour dose of something else. Then we meet with the doctor and evaluate where we are. This will be done in Searcy. It is a standard aggressive treatment for pancreatic cancer, although we are not to get our hopes up for a great recovery. That’s based on statistics, not intangibles like: Jan takes chemo real well – it tends to work on her; Jan is not a textbook case – she has always defied the odds – on lots of things J; God rules statistics, statistics don’t bind God.

What a blessing to have elders of God’s people come to our house Wednesday night to pray over us! And for “the guys” to get together Thursday night to pray!

However, if things do not turn out as we wish, once again, “though I’m found in the desert place, blessed be your name; when the darkness closes in, Lord, still I will say, blessed be the name of the Lord.” Jan seems at peace; Rees and Shanna are doing okay; I’m trying to follow God’s Word “Do not be afraid.” Be prayerful for peace for Elaine, who believes Jan will die tomorrow. In a sense, maybe we should all live like that. Maranatha.

You may send this on to anyone you think would be interested, especially people of faith who pray.

Blessings

cj

Bryce's Birthday...

Bryce is also turning three-- on May 4th!

We know that is a packed weekend with the canidadate coming, but we thought we could sqeeze in a Spiderman party just before the evening activities on Saturday, May 5th. Assuming that the event at church starts at 6:00PM, then we'll be celebrating Bryce's birthday from 4-6, and everyone can just run around the corner to the church. This is his first party (other than family), so he is pretty excited.

Let us know if you can stop by! praycontinually@comcast.net.
Jenny

Alexa is turning 3

I thought I would just share this with everyone. Our little Alexa is turning 3 on May 9th. So many of you play such a huge role in our lives and in her life. We want to share this blessing with you all. Join us on May 9th at Chuck E Cheese at 5:30 to celebrate her special day. Email us at truenole4@yahoo.com to let us know if you are coming.

The Begining...

This is the first of many posts to keep our group connected.

I'll put more information up as I get it.

And feel free to post when you have things to share.

Watch the e-mails this week. I'll send out tutorials and "what's appropriate" and all that jazz...

OH, and if you got an e-mail inviting you to join as an author, I hope you will follow the prompts. If you didn't get that e-mail, it means I didn't have your personal address. So e-mail me and I'll send the invite to your address.

-Daisha